Family Values: Beth + Jeff's Fabulous Barn Wedding

Beth and Jeff's glamorous barn wedding is without a doubt stunning, but the real beauty of this wedding lies with the story. As Beth's mum passed away three years before Beth and Jeff said their I do's, family became of significant importance. Beth and Jeff incorporated family photos and DIY touches throughout the reception, and heartwarmingly, Beth donned her mum's accessories to have a little piece of mum there with her on the day. Get your tissues ready, and enjoy Beth and Jeff's wedding, all captured by the wonderful Kristen Marie.

In true modern fashion, Jeff and Beth met online. Beth joined a dating website as a dare, Jeff on a whim and as luck would have it they found each other (despite being hundreds of miles apart!) Beth explains: "At the time I was working evening shift in the Seattle area and a friend had encouraged me to have more social interactions and give it a try. Jeff was working night and day in New York City developing his career as an art director for a small film company and this lent itself to way too much time in front of a computer—so he figured, why not I’ll try it out. Neither of us put location constraints on our profiles and we happened upon each other. We started e-mailing based on our similar interests in art and music.

...It was serendipitous that I had bought a ticket to New York City to visit a dear friend a week before meeting Jeff online. I asked Jeff for advice on what to see in NYC he suggested a few tourist sites and himself. We met near by Bryant Park after I got terribly lost and he thought he was being stood up. The initial meeting was great, he had me laughing constantly with silly stories and there was an ease and mutual dorkiness that clicked. The relationship initially grew as a long distance friendship. We both ditched online dating but kept in contact. After two years of talking and finding ourselves reaching out to the other more and more in difficult times and joyful ones, I got a job in NYC and the rest, as they say, is history."

Unfortunately Beth's mum passed away before her wedding day, but beforehand she organised a box of keepsakes for Beth to have with her on her wedding day. A really adorable sentiment, and something Beth treasured. "My mom passed away about three years before we got married and she had made me a box of things for my wedding day including a letter she had written me, lace from her wedding dress that my seamstress and dear friend sewed into my dress, and a necklace she wore on her wedding day. This really was something precious to me. It made me feel like she was close by."

So how did Jeff pop the question then? Beth satisfied our curiosity... "It was the day after a big blizzard and Jeff convinced me to go drawing—this is something we love to do together. After starting the day off going to confession and Mass we went to Bryant Park, the site of our first date. Instead of pulling out drawing supplies, Jeff pulled out a few tattered pieces of paper. The first was in four pieces—it was a prayer that we had decided to pray early on in our relationship asking for guidance. He told me he had been carrying it with him and praying it every day. The second piece of paper was a list that we’d made of all of the explorations and experiences we wanted to have together. He asked me, “have we done everything?” I read down the list nodding my head and then I got to the end where I read, “get married and start a family!” I didn’t remember writing this on the paper and it took me a few seconds before I realized he had written it. I looked up shocked and he was down on one knee."

Jeff and Beth decided to do a first look before the wedding. Their photographer Kristen suggested a spot in the woods, with some stunning results...

As family is so important to both Beth and Jeff they were eager for their wedding to not just be beautiful but to have meaning. "We decided on a theme of “family table” friends sewed custom runners for long pine tables that we decorated with thrifted brass candle holders and vases. my dad made small wooden blocks that held up our family photos. We wanted everyone at our wedding to feel that they were part of our family and thank them for loving and supporting us."

Planning a wedding cross-country isn't easy so Beth quickly gave up on all of the DIYs she had been furiously pinning and instead focused on the most important element of the décor: the family themed tables. If you adore DIY like Beth but just don't have the time focusing in on one element is such a good idea. For oodles of DIY inspiration check out our One Fab Day Pinterest.

Now lets talk about that dress...Beth's etheral Ivy and Aster gown was bought at Lovely Bridal in NYC, and was then altered by a seamstress friend, Beth Anne Galloway of Kingston. Beth's veil is over 100 years old, and was found in Maria Niforos NYC antique lace vendor. So very dreamy.

Keeping with the theme of family, Beth and Jeff's country barn venue choice was a reflection of Beth's childhood summers spent at her mum's ranch in the midwest (as well as the ample space for dancing!)

The barn's décor was kept rustic and chic with flowers gathered from friend’s gardens and bouquets and table cards lettered by Jeff.

The family theme is beautiful and would be really easy to replicate at your own wedding. Simply chose your favourite family photos (original black and white snaps work best to add a vintage feel), frame them in an array of simple frames and dot them around your venue. A fab talking point, not to mention they look great and are totally inexpensive.

Advise-wise Beth and Jeff have some touching words of wisdom "It is way too easy to get caught up in creating a day that is visually perfect and this can really distract from the importance of investing in each other leading up to your wedding day. The most helpful thing that we did was to develop our relationship and friendships beforehand and get guidance and support as we prepared to get married."

For their honeymoon Beth and Jeff jetted off to the Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. Huge congratulations to you both and thank you so much for sharing your day with us!

A big Thank You also goes to Kristen Marie for sharing her fabulous work with us. To see more photography from Kristen head over to www.iamkristenmarie.com